Sandblasting without damaging bearing surfaces...???

[Greg72]

Does anyone have a good trick for protecting bearing surfaces from sand blasting texture? I will be blasting some steering knuckles and there are a LOT of machined surfaces that need to be preserved. I was thinking about stuffing old rags into them but wondered if there is a better way.

A lot of the bearings are perfectly good, so I have already pressed them out of the knuckles. At this point it's stripped all the way down to just the cast part (and a lot of gross paint)

 

[scrappy88]

I've always used a couple layers of thick duct tape, then trimmed with a razor blade. When blasting, just avoid hitting the tape directly. Never had a problem with this method.

 

[jekquistk5]

Theres a tape I picked up at a welding/supply store its for powder coating. Its like a thick plastic type tape. Holds up to 450 Deg and has worked for my little sand blasting projects.

 

[76zimmer]

I have used a couple layers of Gorilla Tape (good duct tape or equivalent) and have had no trace of surface change from the blasting media. As mentioned try to stay away from a direct shot though.

 

[ryoken]

yup, good tape... I use shrinkwrap tape..... 3M preservation tape is about the best you can get for this.... but it's like $40, 50 a roll!

 

[Smokinthehippies]

i know in powder/ elect dipping they have this plasticky film type tape. its like a greenish saran wrap but pretty durable to that type of nonsense.

dont know what its called tho.

 

[Stomis]

You could always media blast the parts with bearing surfaces. Thats what I use at work. Its nice knowing that no matter how long you sit on something at full blaster you wont move material.